Debunking the 3000 Mile Oil Change

Busting Auto Maintenance Myths from Medialink on Vimeo.

Auto Experts Debunk the Out-Dated 3,000 Mile Oil Change

To help save drivers’ time and money, while being environmentally efficient, auto experts are busting industry myths on car maintenance. In fact, most manufacturers recommend more than 5,000 miles between oil changes instead of the traditional 3,000.

Making this adjustment can save eight to ten gallons of oil a year and put as much as $76 back in your pocket. Following new recommendations can also help improve the environment. In some cases, just one gallon of improperly disposed motor oil can contaminate one million gallons of drinking water.

Here are some more of the most common maintenance myths that have been adjusted based on new vehicle technologies:

- Tune-ups. Today’s engines have computer-monitored systems that still need to be checked but don’t need a traditional tune-up every few thousand miles.
- Wheel Alignment. Although it’s important to keep tires properly maintained and inflated, it’s not always necessary to have them aligned every time they are rotated.
- Unnecessary services. Routine maintenance services such as fuel injector cleaning and transmission fluid flushes aren’t necessary as often anymore.

Produced for General Motors